Looms fob weaving plaids



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v i i M. A. FURBUSH AND GEO. OROMPTON, OF VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOOMS FOR WEAVING PLAIDS, 66C.

v Specification 0f Letters Patent No. 24,206, dated May 31, 1859'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MERRILL A. FUR- RUSH and GEORGE CRoMP'roN, both of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looms for Weaving Plaids and other Figured Fabrics; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l, is a rear elevation vof the loom; Fig. 2, an elevation of the left hand side; and Fig. 3, a horizontal section taken at the line A, a, of Fig. 2.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

In that class of looms for weaving plaids and other figured fabrics requiring a series of shuttle boxes, and in which the shifting of the shuttle boxes is determined by a pat` tern chain or cylinder, it has been proposed to operate the shuttle boxes at both ends from one pattern chain or cylinder by having the two sets of cams that operate the two series of shuttle boxes mounted on one shaft, and to operate these cams in either direction by having two ratchet wheels on the said shaft and in reversed directions, and two pawls so that the one patternchain or cylinder could, when so arranged, shift the shuttle boxes at both ends so as to bring the several shuttles into action in any order desired instead of being limited in the changes to a regular succession, butunder all circumstances the boxes' at both ends were operated alike, so that with three shuttle boxes at each end only three colors could be emploved although these three colors could be brought into action in any order desired, and the series of shuttle boxes at each'side of the loom have been operated separately by means of two pattern chains or cylinders, and duplicating the mechanism at each end, but in such cases although the two series of shuttle boxes could be operated independently, the mechanism was not such as to admit of shifting the several colors in any order desired. In view of this state df the art the desideratum was to produce a loom in which the series of shuttle boxes on each side could be shifted in any order, desired, and in any order on either side independently of the order of shifting on the other side, so that with three shuttle boxes the loom could have the capacity to work more than three colors, and this we have accomplished by our invention the first part of which consists in the employment of two sets of ratchet wheels and appendages, each setconsisting of two ratchets operating in reversed direct-ions, in combination with two sets of cams, one set of ,double ratchets and cams for each series of shuttle boxes, whatever may be the means employed for determining the periods of shifting the ratchets, and our said invention also consists in combining the two sets of double and reversed ratchets and the two sets of cams and two series of shuttle boxes with one pattern chain or cylinder so that with the one pattern chain or cylinder the shuttles at both ends may be shifted in any order desired, and in the same or in dierent orders on both sides.

In the accompanying `drawings (a) represents the frame of a loom which may be of any Suitable construction, (o) the lay with the slidingv shuttle boxes (c, c) each attached to, and moved by a rod (d) connected with one end of a lever (e) receiving motion, to shift the shuttle boxes, from a cam wheel (f) having a series of cam projections l, 2, 3, all around. The lay is operated by the cranks on the shaft (g), and by a pinion (h) and cog wheel (i) imparts motion to a shaft below, which makes one turn .to two of the lay shaft (g), and at one end the shaft (j) carries two cams (k, k,) on opposite sides which act upon and vibrate a lever (l) once for each beat o-f the lay, and this lever carries and operates two sets of ratchet hands or pawls (m, m) and (n, 70') for the purpose of shifting the cam wheels (f, 7) one on each side of the loom. The cam wheel (f) on the right hand side of the loom is attached to, and is turned by, a shaft (o) which extends through the whole width of the loom, and the other cam wheel (f) is attached to a hub (50) that turns freely on the other end of the said shaft (o).

On the hub (p) of the cam wheel (f) are secured two ratchet wheels (g, 93) having theratchet teeth cut in opposite directions,

so that one wheel will turn the cam inr one and fturn with the cam Wheel .(f) on the shaft, so that the two cam wheels Acan -bey turned at :the same time opposite or iny the same direction.

The cam wheels are represented 4as formed lthe lever (e) bears on the point l o .any one division of the cam, the first shuttle box will lbe in line with the Ashuttle race A,of the lay, either :to ,send ,out or receive a shuttle, and the cam passing from the point 1 to 2, will lift up Vthe first vshuttle Abox and bring Vthe second in 4line with the race, `and the `cam passing from the .point 2 to 3 will bring the .third shuttle box in Aline with the race, and the .cam being again :turned vin the ysame direction to the point f1 o f the next division will let `down the shuttle -boxesto` bring back into line the `first shuttle bOX, but Vif .the cam ,be turned from the point ,3 in ,the reverse `.direction the second shuttle box will be brought 'in line, and from the second the .change may be made `either to the ,thirdorlto the first, and so from the Vfirst the change may be made either to the second `or the third, and so on 'through the series by simply turning the cam Wheel either in the :one or theother direction, and thefdirec` Vtion 'in 4which the cam wheels are to 'be turned depends upon the position othe ratchet hands or pawls which act upon `the ratchet wheels. i

'Each pair of ratchet wheels has two pawls, the pai-r of pawls .(m m); Aforv the ipair rof ratchets (g, r), and `the pair `of pawlsV .(41,777)

for the pair of 'ratchets (s, t) The lever (Z) which `carries .and actuate the pawls', 1s made .of such thickness, in view of the close proximity of 4the two pairs of ratchets, that mone pair of pawls is pivoted on each side. The :two paw'ls of each pair are aanitedor formed of ,one piece, .the .one ,(m) extending up .toV

act on the teeth `of the'wheel to turn the cam in `one direction, and the other (ml) .extendino` vunder to act on the teeth of the Wheel to turn the cam in theoppos''te `direction.; and so with the other pair .of pawls and ratchet wheels, ,and the acting parts of the two pawls constituting each pair are so far Aapart relatively to `the diarneter of the ratchet wheels, that when one is in Iaction the other is relieved. Y The pair of pawls (m, m) is suspended by a -spring link (u) to the end of Aa lever :(11), and the Aother `.pair by a like link .to `alike leverr.(w) `and .these two levers rest by their weight and ,the suspended pawls on the rolls `or `spindles of the pattern chain or cylin` der (y) so that as the chain or cylinder is turned and the rolls pass and lifter depress the levers (o) and (fw) the pawls are respectively brought into action or relieved .that the cams may be turned in the required direction depending upon the pattern chain or cylinder, as that is shifted in the usual manner by the ratchet arrangement (e) receiving motion at each beat of the lay Jfrom the lay crank. The cams are prevented from turning toofarby Jfriction straps (a) or by other suitable means. Fromthe f oregoin it will 'be perceived that the two vseries 0% shuttle boxes `can be shifted in any desired order, and that the order of shifting on each side is entirely independent of the order of shifting on the opposite side, so that a greater varietyl of changes can be produced than whenboth sides were .changed in unison although in any order desired, or when both` sides were changed 'independently `of each other but both in the same order, and althoughfwe have described and represented what we prefer and deem to be best, viz, "both series of shuttle boxes controlled and shifted by one pattern .chain or cylinder, we doi not wish to be understood as limiting our claim of rinvention 'tofthis', as `by the use of one part of our invention, in connection with two pattern chains o r cylinders, the same capacity of changes may be obtained. Nor do we wish -to be understood as Vlimiting ou-rselves to the special ,arrangement above described, as that 'may be greatly varied withlout departing from the principle or mode lof reversed ratchets, substantially as described, in combination with two `setsof cams and two fseries of shuttle boxes, substantial'ly as, and :tor the purpose, specified.

2. And we also claim the two sets of relao versible ratchets and appendages,- fthe -two setsof cams, and two series ofshuttleboxes, substantially as described, in combination with one pattern chain or cylinder, in man c Witnesses:

3C. Rien, t DANIEL R. PRATT. 

